The Board & Staff of Rainy River Future Development Corporation wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year.

Rainy River Resources Luncheon

Representatives from Rainy River Resources spoke to a crowd of approximately 40 people at the Adventure Inn during a mining luncheon that was sponsored by the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Fort Frances, and the Rainy River Future Development Corporation.



The meeting, which was open to all business, both members and non-members, featured Kyle Stanfield (P. Eng., Director of Enviroment and Sustainability) and Garrett MacDonald, (MBA, P. Eng., Vice-President, Operations), Rainy River Resources, who gave presentations on an overview of the project and their recent assessment results. 

http://www.rainyriverresources.com/

Stuff A Cruiser... Another Successful Event

(Excerpts from OPP Cst. Anne McCoy, CSO, Fort Frances Detachment) 

“What a phenomenal event!”  

This year, in the Rainy River District there were two Stuff a Cruiser Events. The first being in Atikokan on November 26 and the second event was December 10th in Fort Frances and Emo. 

The Atikokan event saw 7 OPP cruisers stuffed full of non perishable food items in support of local foodbanks.  Fort Frances and Emo reported that 20 cruisers were stuffed …giving a grand total of 27 cruisers!!!!!!!!!

“We had lots of community volunteers helping us all day at each location.  I need to thank all of the people who gave their time to volunteer at the cruiser sites, the Legal Clinic who helped purchase the recycle bags (lots of great comments about the green colour!), thanks to Tess's Kitchen who served up delicious sandwiches/soups and snacks to all those who helped.  Thanks to all the community partners who help organize, ran errands and delivered flyers to ensure we got the message out and made people aware of the need to help fill the food banks.”

2010 Photo courtesy of FF Times

“We have a very generous District.  This year we all came together to help so many organizations load up their food banks to assist families in need.  There were all sorts of items received including turkeys, hams (even got a bunch of those huge spiral hams!!!), canned goods, tonnes of cereal boxes, pasta, stuffing, pancake and syrup, coffee/tea, toys and diapers, plus so much more.  I know a lot of the shelves at Safeway, The Place, Cloverleaf and Wal-Mart are a lot lighter this evening!!!”

Most appreciated thanks go out to the many volunteers that helped to make this a successful event.

·      Volunteer Bureau, United Native Friendship Centre, Sunset Metis, and the Salvation Army for helping unload the huge amount of food…

·      Anne Renaud and Crystal Swire who helped as “runner” vehicles to transport goods to location as we filled up…

·      Lincoln Dunn who looked after the Emo event… great job !!!

·      Leo and his crew at B93 FM radio for their assistance in getting the message out and for making our Christmas CD…

·      To the citizen who donate $1000 worth of groceries to the Stuff a Cruiser Program…

·      Victim Services for their feedback, help and making stickers for those who donated

·      OPP Graphics department, for their expertise, dependability and dedication for the brochures, flyers and posters…absolutely outstanding work…

·      The Westend Weekly and Atikokan Progress for getting the message out to the public…

·      Linda Plumridge and Times Staff for their help with updating the www.celebratingdiversity.ca website and allowing to use the site as a link for people to go online to get more information about the Stuff a Cruiser program…

·      OPP fellow officers, Auxillary Members, Murray Alexander and Don Marquis…and the dayshift that helped to rendezvous Don to Emo from Rainy River to get his cruiser…

·      OPP Detachment Commanders for always supporting the Stuff a Crusier project…

·      Treaty 3 Police CSO Justin Booth…

·      Wendy Kabel for taking the photographs

“You are all fantastic.  I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone.  I know that this was a community effort and I’m proud to say I call the Rainy River District my home.  You all make me so proud of the job I do.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart and have a safe Christmas holiday.”
 --Cst. Anne McCoy

Rainy River Resources Luncheon

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Fort Frances is hosting a luncheon on December 12, 2011 at the Adventure Inn from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Luncheon is open to all businesses, both chamber members and non – Chamber members.

The meeting will feature Kyle Stanfield (P.Eng., Director of Environment and Sustainability) and Garett Macdonald, (MBA, P.Eng., Vice President, Operations) from Rainy River Resources, who will give a presentation on an overview of the project and their recent assessment results.

The Luncheon with Rainy River Resources is open to all businesses, both members and nonmembers.

Cost to attend, which includes appetizers, is $18 for members and $20 for nonmembers.  If you are interested in attending you must RSVP by December 8, 2011, for more information please contact Chamber Manager Anthony Mason at 274-5773. 

Voyageur Polar Plunge - January 1st

A jump in the lake could earn you a 3D Blu Ray Home theatre system.  It's one of the prizes being offered to participants at the Voyageur Lion's Polar Plunge on January 1st, at the Pither's Point dock.




Event chairperson, Jim Martindale says new sponsorship provides for some incentives they hope will inspire more jumpers and incease fundraising.   The top fundraiser gets the theatre system with Canadian Tire offering up gift certificates.

Fort Frances Chamber AGM

The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual general membership meeting Thursday, Dec. 1 from 4-6:30 p.m. at La Place Rendez-Vous.   It is open to all businesses, both Chamber members and non-Chamber members.

The meeting will feature a guest speaker from Osisko Mining, who will give an overview of the project and seek feedback/comments.

The meeting also will include a financial report and message from Chamber president Mark Caron.
Appetizers will be served, and there is no cost to attend as the Town of Fort Frances and Rainy River Future Development Corp. are sponsoring the event.

If you are interested in attending, contact Anthony Mason at 274-5773 by Friday (Nov. 25).

Stuff A Cruiser

Photo (c) Fort Frances Times Ltd.

(information and excerpts taken from Fort Frances Times Ltd.)

The local OPP’s “Stuff a Cruiser” campaign is set to return for a second holiday season on December 10^th, 2011 to help fill the pantries of local organizations which help those in need.

From 10 a.m.-4 p.m. that day, OPP cruisers being located in front of Wal-Mart, Safeway, and The Place here in Fort Frances, as well as Cloverleaf Grocery in Emo, collecting donations of non-perishable food items from the public.

These donations will go towards supporting the programs run by the local Salvation Army, UNFC, Sunset Country Métis, and the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau for the annual community Christmas dinner.

The “wish list” includes items such as canned soup (tomato, cream of mushroom, chicken noodle, vegetable), canned vegetables (corn, beans, carrots, peas, tomatoes), canned fruit, baked beans, canned meat (tuna, salmon), turkey, ham, and Kraft Dinner.
Pasta (macaroni, spaghetti), instant potatoes, cereal, peanut butter, jam, tea, coffee, packets of sugar, canned pasta, cranberry sauce, Stove Top stuffing, pancake mix, syrup, powdered milk, and packets of salt and pepper also are sought.

54th Annual Parade of Lights

The 54th Annual Parade of Lights will be held on Saturday, November 26th, 2011 downtown Scott Street, Fort Frances commencing at 4:30 pm.

The theme for this year’s parade is “A Festival of Trees,” with individuals and groups encouraged to enter floats.

Prizes will be awarded for best church or school group ($75), best non-profit organization ($75), best business ($75), best recreational ($75), and best decorated individual ($25).

The parade will start on the 800 block of Scott Street, near the Memorial Sports Centre, and proceed west down Scott Street before disbanding at Mowat Avenue.   The parade lineup will start at 3 p.m., with float judging starting at 3:45.  The parade then will get rolling ay 4:30 p.m. sharp.

The local Salvation Army will be collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations, so parade-goers are encouraged to be generous. In addition, Canada Post once again will be collecting children’s letters to Santa.

Social Media Workshop

You don't want to miss this...

 

How Social Media Can Help You Achieve Your Business Goals with The Video Advocate - Melissa Schenk

 

Rainy River Future Development Corporation presents:

Melissa Schenk - Executive Producer of MS2 Productions.  She will take you on a journey through the tools of Social Media – Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and You Tube. Learn how to use them to become your own Social Media Producer, make a name for yourself and be remembered!

This jam-packed informative, interactive and engaging Social Media Boot Camp has been designed for local business owners, sales consultants, managers, non-profit organizations and students, to gain a better understanding of the world of Social Media and how to use it to their advantage when marketing themselves or their businesses online.

 

* Thursday, December 1, 2011 * 630 pm to 930 pm * La Place Rendezvous *

 

Tickets are only $20 per person and you will have a chance to win door prizes valued at $299.  Tickets are available at Rainy River Future Development Corporation (608 Scott Street, Fort Frances). Office hours are Monday to Friday 830 am to 430 pm.

 

ALSO...

 

Exclusive One-on-One Social Media Training Workshop ~ Bring your questions to Melissa!

 

Register now for this interactive workshop that will help you harness the power of Social Media and learn how to develop
content that is engaging, sincere and relatable. Whether you want to create your own social media pages or just learn more about them, this workshop is for you! Training of Social Media sites will include Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn!

 

* Friday, December 2, 2011 * 9 am to 12 pm * Rainy River Future Development Corporation Training Room *

 

Tickets for this session are only $20 per person but seating is limited to 12 people on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Attendance to the Thursday event is mandatory to attend the workshop.  Please register and pay in advance to hold your seat.

 

For more information, please call RRFDC at 274-3276.

 

Don't wait...register now!

 

 

 

November Video Conferencing

1             1:00 – 4:30            CBSA – Customs Workshop

2             12:30 – 3:30          Your Business Plan –Operations & Financial Summary

3             10:00 – 12:00         Introduction to Income Statements

3             1:00 – 3:00            The Basics of Exporting

4             10:30 – 12:00         Financial Literacy Learning Resources

8             1:00 – 4:00            Understanding Yourself, Your Coworkers, and Stress

9             10:00 – 12:00        Microsoft Office Word 2007 – Tips for Small Business

9             1:00 – 3:00            Microsoft Office Excel 2007 – Tips for Small Business

10            10:00 – 12:00        PowerPoint 2007 – Tips for Powerful Presentations

10            1:00 – 3:00            Starting a Home Based Business

16            10:30 – 12:00        PST: An Introduction to Provincial Sales Tax

16            12:30 – 3:30          GST/HST Seminar – New HST Rules and Info

23            1:00 – 3:00            How to Buy a Franchise

23            5:30 – 8:30            CRA – Payroll Information Seminar

24            10:00 – 1:00          Are You Ready to Be an Entrepreneur

30            2:00 – 4:00            Small Business Website - How to Write for the Web

Call the RRFDC at 274-3276 to sign up today !!! 

Small Business Week, BDC

For over 30 years BDC has organized Small Business Week® to pay tribute to Canadian entrepreneurs, creating opportunities for them to:

• Share success stories
• Talk to leading business experts
• Exchange innovative ideas
• Participate in events held across Canada

In 2011, Small Business Week will take place Oct. 16 – 22.

Theme
Power Up Your Business. Invest. Innovate. Grow.
To win, ambitious entrepreneurs know innovation must be at the heart of their business strategy. Their edge comes from discovering their customers’ needs and acting to meet them with exciting new products and services.


The theme of Small Business Week 2011 is a call to action for today’s entrepreneurs. It’s time to attack challenges with renewed decisiveness, market awareness and creativity. And it’s time to invest in the new technology your team needs to get the job done.


At this year’s Small Business Week, you’ve got the power!  Visit the official website at http://www.bdc.ca/en/sbw/pages/home.html

Paro Video Conference Workshops

October 12       8:30-9:30         The Power Within – Inner Strength

October 12       10:00-11:00      Getting the Money – Action Planning for Success

October 12       11:15-12:15       Getting the Money – Using Blogging to Increase Your Business

October 19       8:30-9:30         Expect the Unexpected – Adjust to Change!

October 19       10:00-11:00      Getting the Money – Developing Your Marketing and Advertising Strategy

October 19       11:15-12:15       Brainstorming for Success

October 26      8:30-9:30         Recipe for Success!  What Makes a Blue Ribbon Winner

October 26      10:00-11:00      Getting the Money – Industry & Target Market Research

October 26      11:15-12:15       Getting the Money – Sales Strategies for Small Business

For more information or to register for PARO workshops, please call Contact North at 274-3988.

Upcoming Events ~ Sign Up Today!

RRFDC Video Conference Workshops ($5 each):

October 11       1:00-4:00         CRA – Electronic Services for Business Seminar

October 17       10:00-12:00      Marketing Part 1 | Marketing Basics

October 17       12:00-2:00       Marketing Part 2 | Marketing Research

October 18       10:00-12:00     Marketing Part 3 | Advertising & Promotion

October 18       12:00-2:00       Marketing Part 4 | Developing a Marketing Plan

October 18       3:00-5:00         Profit from your Kitchen Creation

October 19       1:00-4:00         Web Crit: Panel on the Critique of Small Business Websites

October 20      1:00-3:00         Common Business Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

October 25      1:00-3:00         Business Opportunities & Ideas – Choosing the Right One!

October 27      1:00-4:30         CBSA Customs Workshop

RRFDC Live Workshops (FREE):

October 19       10:00-11:30      How to Start a Small Business Seminar – Trainer: Angela Halvorsen

For more information or to register for RRFDC workshops, please call 274-3276.

2011 Customer Service Challenge Top Ten Winners (Photos)

Back in May, at the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce Annual Deck Party at La Place Rendezvous the RRFDC announced their Top Ten Customer Service Challenge Champions and 5 Honourable Mentions for 2011.
This year’s challenge, which was held online via a ballot form, saw around 250 voters selecting their choice of 3 businesses who they felt deserved their votes for great customer service.  
The RRFDC then compiled a list of Top Ten from the 28 participating business, and also gave out 5 Honourable Mention Certificates.  

1. Fort Frances Enhanced Hearing Centre
2. Brockies Jewellers
3. Celeste's
4. Northwoods Gallery & Gifts
5. Pharmasave

The Top Ten awarded with a 2011 Customer Service Champion plaque were:

CLOVERLEAF FAMILY FOODS

FORT FRANCES GENERAL SUPPLY

FORT FRANCES TIMES LTD.

LA PLACE RENDEZVOUS

MADDY'S LITTLE STORE

WEST END MOTORS (FF)

MCTAGGARTS

SIMPLICITY PROFESSIONAL HAIR & BODY CARE

SUPER 8 MOTEL

FORT FRANCES WEB DESIGN

October Workshops

11            1:00 – 4:00            Electronic Services for Business Seminar

12            1:00 – 2:00            Selling Your Product or Service to the Gov’t of Canada

17            10:00 – 12:00         Marketing Part 1 | Marketing Basics

17            12:00 – 2:00           Marketing Part 2 | Marketing Research

18            10:00 – 12:00         Marketing Part 3 | Advertising & Promotion

18            12:00 – 2:00          Marketing Part 4 | Develop a Marketing Plan

18            3:00 – 5:00            Profit from your Kitchen Creation

18            5:30 – 8:30            Small Business Tax Information Workshop

19            1:00 – 4:00            Web Crit: Critique of Small Business Websites

20            1:00 – 3:00            Common Business Mistakes & How to Avoid Them

21            1:00 – 3:00            Canadian SMEs Going Global: Challenges & Opportunities

25            1:00 – 3:00            Business Opportunities & Ideas – Choosing the Right One!

27            1:00 – 4:30            CBSA Customs Workshop

Vendor Blender

Ever wondered what these products were like?

Want to browse & shop without having a “home party”?

Come and check out the

Vendor Blender

Fri. Oct. 7th 3pm-8pm
& Sat. Oct. 8th 10am-4pm

At The Volunteer Bureau (the old CN Station)

FREE ADMISSION ~ FREE DRAWS

~ Vendors Include ~

* Passion Parties * Arbonne * Scentsy *

* Body by Vi * Vape Mate * Norwex * Epicure *

* Tupperware * Lia Sophia * Eclectic Charm *

* Pampered Chef * snicklefritz custom tshirts *

* Butterfly Creations * Sassy Creations *

For more information please contact Jody Maguire at jomamag@hotmail.com.

New Large Animal Vet for the Rainy River District

Announcement from:

Hillcrest Animal Clinic

Dr. Bobby Egli, Owner

'I would like to introduce a new veterinarian to our practice - Dr. Jon Fistler.

As you might know, I have been providing large animal veterinary service to the Rainy River District for the past two years. This has been a challenge, especially in the provision of emergency service due to the distances involved. I have had the opportunity to hire Dr. Jon Fistler who will now be residing in the Rainy River district and can provide the continuity of service that this area has lacked for so many years.

Dr. Jon comes to the area with a great deal of large animal experience. He is qualified to practice all types of veterinary medicine; however, large animal is his passion. Jon’s father was a mixed practice veterinarian with his clinic attached to the house, so Jon grew up with an interest in animals of all kinds.

He graduated in 1990 from the University Of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine and has been practicing in Wisconsin and Minnesota for the past 21 years. He practiced equine medicine in Cloquet, making calls into Duluth, Superior, as well as Virginia and Hibbing. He practiced mixed animal medicine in International Falls, with clinics in Warroad and Baudette.

Jon has extensive experience in equine medicine, including health checks, gelding, lameness exams and emergency care. He is proficient in bovine medicine and surgery, having worked 12 years for large exclusively dairy practices in Wisconsin and Minnesota, in addition to working with large beef herds. Over the years, he has also enjoyed working with elk, red deer, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs and exotics. He is available to answer any questions you may have.

Jon has moved here from Minnesota. He has two grown daughters who live in Duluth and a son in the Air Force in Washington, D.C. When he is not caring for animals, he enjoys fishing, hunting, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and woodworking.

Dr. Fistler is excited about his move to Canada as a resident, and his membership in the College of Veterinarians of Ontario. I am extremely happy that Jon wants to make the Rainy River District his home and continue his professional career with us.'

Dr. Jon will be available for all your animal health care needs as follows:

Monday to Friday: 8 am to 5 pm

Saturday: 8 am to Noon

24 Hour Emergency Service Veterinarian on Call

For appointments call:

Dr. Jon Fistler: 807-276-2685 or

Hillcrest Animal Clinic toll free at 1-800-465-7223